DESCRIPTION
This module presents the topic of connecting with parents, guardians, and families, which includes regular formal communication methods and strategies as well as informal ways to connect with and engage parents, guardians, and families.
SUGGESTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Regular ongoing communication, as well as choosing the best platform(s), is vital.
- A working inventory of ways to engage parents, guardians, and families.
- Note and discuss the value and importance of ongoing authentic informal interactions.
HANDOUT
Connecting with Parents Handout
RESOURCES
Books
Diffily, Deborah and Morrison, Kathy (1997). Family-Friendly Communication for Early Childhood Programs.
Articles
Building Partnerships Between Families and Early Childhood Staff. Kids Matter Australian Early Childhood Mental Health Initiative.
https://www.startingblocks.gov.au/media/1105/kmec_c4_201205_03_building-partnerships.pdf
11x: Welcome Children and Families to Your Classroom.Teaching Young Children June/July 2009. Vol. 2 No. 5. NAEYC.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/jun2009/welcome-children-and-families
Message in a Backpack: Building Partnerships with Your Child’s Teacher. NAEYC.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/summer2023/building-partnerships-with-your-childs-teacher
A Note to Share with Families.
https://www.edutopia.org/home-school-team
Building Parent-Teacher Relationships. Reading Rockets.
https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/parent-engagement/articles/building-parent-teacher-relationships
Websites
Edutopia
An entire list of family engagement articles, tips, and strategies
https://www.edutopia.org/home-school-connections-resources
NAEYC – Family Engagement
https://www.naeyc.org/search/Family%20engagement
CDC Link to Free Materials about Child Development
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/freematerials.html
Center for Effective Parenting – EC Handouts (Spanish Available)
https://parenting-ed.org/parenting-information-handouts/early-childhood/
Message in a Backpack – NAEYC
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/topics/message-backpack
Videos
Family Engagement with Schools: Strategies to Build Strong Partnerships by Formed Families Forward
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oAjOHzvw7A (more for the parent perspective)
Fact Sheet to Accompany Video
https://formedfamiliesforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Fact-Sheet-Fam-Engagement-with-Schools-Strategies-video-VTSS-FFF.pdf
Building Partnerships with Families by Early Childhood Management Services https://youtu.be/r9_U8Q5XHQY?si=mR1apaN87DNIn2RU
Best Practices in Family Engagement by Sheltering Arms: https://youtu.be/RgdUvQ6sRSI?si=g5twVPCvYOmfcj9B (a specific center’s approach)
Curriculum
Thrive Time Curriculum By Dr. Rhoda Wolle – She has many great parent connection handouts that partner with her SEL topics.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ewihpbxeqpwedqe/BrainParentConnection.pdf?dl=0
Learning Modules
Getting Families Involved: Build Relationships with Families http://resourcesforearlylearning.org/educators/module/20/13/61/
Head Start ECLKC: US Department of Health and Human Services. Building Partnerships with Families Series. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/family-engagement/article/building-partnerships-families-series
Digital Communication Platforms
Seesaw – https://web.seesaw.me/
Brightwheel – https://mybrightwheel.com/
Hi Mama, now Lillio – https://www.lillio.com/
FOR FURTHER STUDY
Martin Luther College Course
EDU8103 Developing Home & School Relationships
